Man sentenced to unpaid work for 'grossly offensive' Captain Sir Tom Moore tweet
Last updated 30th Mar 2022
A Glasgow man has been sentenced to 150 hours of unpaid work, for sending a "grossly offensive" tweet about Captain Sir Tom Moore, the day after his death.
Joseph Kelly, 36, from Castlemilk, denie breaching communication laws after posting the tweet on February 3 2021.
He was convicted at Lanark Sheriff Court in January.
Sheriff Adrian Cottam said: "I'm of the view that the focus of the tweet was not on the British army or soldiers but on the man pictured, Captain Sir Tom Moore, who had become a national hero during the early stages of the pandemic.
"The timing of the tweet makes the comment not only offensive, but grossly offensive and what the accused chose to write can only be described as that.
"The prosecution does interfere with freedom of expression but it is a necessary interference."
Kelly will also spend 18 months under a supervision order.
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